Waterproof watch case bezel



pxi 59 1958 R. TRAUTZ 298%434 WATERPROOF WATCH CASE: BEZEL Filed May 24, 195e z'sheets-sheet 1 K IN VEN TOR. f /c/m/Po 779/9072 WATERPROOF WATCH CASE BEZEL Richard rfrautz, Kew Gardens, N. Y., assigner to Jonell Manufacturing Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 24, 1956, serial No. 587,052

s Claims. (ci. sti- 90) This invention relates to a waterproof watch case bezel and to a method for making the same.

Watches, and particularly wrist watches, are made waterproofed, as the term conventionally is used, by first mounting a movement in a box, known as a movement holder. Then a watch crystal and one or moresealing gaskets adjacent the periphery `of the crystal are compressed between the rim of the movement holder and a bezel, thereby making the joint between the crystal and movement holder waterproof. The water tightness of the watch case, i. e., the degree to which the ingress of water through said joint will be inhibited, is a function of the amount and conformity `of the pressure exerted on the gasket. This, in turn, will depend upon the strength and stiffness `of the bezel and movement holder. Due to its simple box-like shape, the movement holder presents no problems in this respect. However, the bezel is essentially nothing but a tube with an inwardly directed flange on which the pressure is imposed. If the watch case is circular, no diiiiculty arises because the bezel and movement holder are interengaged by screwing the movement holder into the bezel so that the holder reinforces the bezel and ange and the bezel and flange thereby easily maintain their proper configuration. However, when the watch case is non-circular, e. g., square, oblong, or oval, the problem is serious, since the bezel and holder no longer are closely interftted and the tubular shape of the bezel is poorly adapted to resist deformation, bending and skewing caused either by coupling -or uncoupling of the bezel and holder or by the pressure exerted against the ange. Moreover, the problem is aggravated when the bezel is made of a precious metal as, for instance, gold, which does not have a substantial structural strength. When using such an expensive material, the manufacturer keeps the bezel as thin as possible. But, as the bezel is made lighter, the case becomes less waterproof since the bezel is less able to resist deformation. As a result, noncircular waterproof watch cases always are compromises between cost and waterproofing and at best are unsatisfactory, save for very expensive watches. Accordingly, at the present time, the sale of non-circular waterproof watches is only a small fraction of that of circular Waterproof watches.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a noncircular waterproof watch case bezel which overcomes the foregoing defects.

More particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide a bezel of the character described which, although made from comparatively light weight and weak sheet material, is strong and rigid and therefore able to provide a substantial and uniform pressure on the sealing gasket.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bezel of the character described which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and can be shaped to any desired ornamental contour.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bezel of the character described which does not skew, twist or distort to a noticeable degree when subjected to the strains 2,830,434 Patented Apr. 15, 1958 incident to the coupling and uncoupling of a bezel and movement holder so that no matter how many times the watch case is opened or closed it will remain waterproof.

Other objects of my invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and series of steps which will be exemplified in the watch cases and process hereinafter described and illustrated and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown various possible embodiments of my invention:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a watch case employing a bezel constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the case;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the bezel;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views taken substantially along the lines 4 4 and 55, respectively, of Fig. 3;

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged sectional views taken substantially along the lines 6-6 and 7-7, respectively, of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 6, but illustrating the parts of the case before coupling; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 of a watch case embodying a modified form of my invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. l through 8, the reference numeral 10 denotes a wrist watch case of so-called waterproof construction. By way of example, l have shown a case of yoblong conguration. It is to be understood, however, that this case may be of any contour, although the particular construction constituting my invention is not necessary in a circular watch case.

The watch case l@ essentially comprises two parts, to wit, a standard movement holder 12, and a bezel 14, the invention being entirely concerned with the latter. A conventional watch also will include a transparent cover 16, usually referred to as a crystal, and an O-ring gasket 18.

The movement holder 12 has a plan contour which approximately matches that of the bezel, but is of a slightly lesser width and length in order to be telescopically receivable therein as is well known in the art. In the particular watch case illustrated, the movement holder includes a bottom wall 20, end walls 22, 24, a rear wall 26, and a front wall 28. Said Walls are integrally interconnected, it being customary to make the bottom wall 20 in a separate piece and then to permanently secure the same, as by soldering, to the side, rear, and front walls. The front wall includes the usual tube 30 which accommodates the stem of a movement adapted to be contained within the holder 12, but is omitted from the present drawings to simplify and clarify illustration of the invention. An inwardly extending flange 32 is located on the inside of the movement holder slightly below the rim, i. e., upper edge thereof, the flange serving, as is well known, to aid in retaining the movement within the holder. An elongated narrow low ridge 34 is located on the external surface of each end wall 22, 24 of the holder. These ridges are customary in non-circu lar waterproof watch cases, being employed as the male half of the coupling means that connects the holder and bezel.

The O-ring 18, so called because of its circular cross section, is provided, as by molding, with a contour that matches that of the rim of the movement holder.

The crystal 16 likewise is conventional. It is conveniently fabricated from a transparent synthetic resin and includes a thick cover 36 with a depending peripheral skirt 38 from which a continuous flange 42 extends outwardly. The outer edge of the flange is undercut as at 44 to assist in waterproofing. Said edge has a contour of the same shape as that of the gasket and is dimensioned to snugly fit into the same.

Pursuant to the instant invention, the construction of the bezel 14 is such that the portion thereof which is immediately adjacent the gasket and against which pressure is exerted by the rim of the movement holder, is strengthened by forming said portion as a hollow box girder, that is to say, by so fabricating the bezel that said portion constitutes a series of connected walls defining a hollow elongated zone.

More specifically, I fabricate the bezel 14 from two principal pieces, to wit, a shell, i. e., outside piece, 46, and a frame, i. e., inside piece, 48. The contour of the frame is such as to snugly telescopically receive the movement holder 12. For this purpose, the end walls 50, 52, the rear wall 54, and the front wall 56 of the frame in the discussed embodiment of my invention define an ablong just slightly larger than the oblong plan contour of the movement holder. The front wall 56 furthermore includes a deep indentation 58 to clear the sleeve 30. In addition, the frame has a continuous inwardly directed top flange 60. The end, rear, and front walls, and the flange conveniently are formed from a single piece of sheet metal which is suitably shaped, e. g., by drawing, into the illustrated and described configuration.

The end walls are formed with elongated slots 62 into which the ridges 34 are designed to be snapped when the bezel and movement holder are coupled. The flange 60 is arranged to overlie the rim of the movement holder and to compress between itself and said rim the gasket 18 and the flange 42 of the crystal, so as to form a watertight seal between the crystal and movement holder.

The shell 46 has an external configuration and, since it is made of sheet metal, an internal configuration which is governed by ornamental considerations, that is to say, by the desired external appearance of the watch case. The only limitation is that it must be large enough to fully receive the frame 48. Said shell has end walls 64, 66, a rear wall 68, and a front wall 70, the latter including an indentation 72 of the same shape as the indentation 58. In the preferred form of my invention being described, the spacing between the inner surfaces of the parallel rear and front walls 68, 70 of the shell is such as just to snugly accommodate the frame 48 so that the respective front and rear walls of the shell and frame are in juxtaposition (see Fig. 7). Moreover, in this form of my invention the spacing between the inner surfaces of the end walls of the shell are such as to likewise snugly receive the frame so that the end walls of the frame and shell also are in juxtaposition (see Fig. 6).

The shell further includes inwardly directed flanges 74 extending from the top edges of the rear and front walls 68, 70 and inwardly directed flanges 76 extending from the top edges of the end walls 64, 66. Said flanges are continuous and, with the side, rear, and front walls, preferably are formed from a single piece of sheet metal in any conventional manner, as by drawing.

Along the edge of the crystal opening 7S defined by the flanges 74, 76, I form a depending spaced skirt 80. The rim, i. e., lower edge, of the skirt is continuous and is shaped to engage the peripheral marginal portion of the flange 60 forming part of the frame 48 and disposed immediately below said skirt. Due to the presence of this skirt, the inner peripheries of the flanges 74, 76 are spaced from the inner portions of the flanges 60. Thus, when the frame is fully telescoped within the shell (see Fig. 8) an elongated hollow zone S2 will be disposed beneath the flanges 74, 76, above the flanges 60 and outwardly of the spaced skirt 80. This hollow space has at least three sides constituting the aforesaid flanges and skirt.

The flanges 74 are substantially parallel to the flanges 60 at the rear and front, i. e., the three and nine oclock sections, of the watch case so that the hollow spaces 82 at these portions of the case are of substantially rectangular cross section (see Fig. 7). On the other hand, the flanges 76 are more steeply inclined than the flanges 60 at the six and twelve oclock ends of the watch case, the inclination of said flanges being such that, in conjunction with the skirt 80, they define a triangular hollow space 82 (see Fig. 8).

It will be understood that the actual cross-sectional configuration of the hollow elongated spaces S2 may vary from watch case to watch case and will depend entirely upon design considerations. However, the space always will include the flange 60 as its bottom wall, the skirt as its inner wall, and the flange 74 or 76 as its top Wall. A fourth, i. e., outer, wall may or may not be present as already has been demonstrated. It also may be mentioned that the skirt 80 can be made as an upstanding lip integral with the frame 48 instead of as a skirt integral with the shell 46.

The frame is secured to the shell so as to be integral therewith. This may be accomplished, for example, by soldering, the layer of solder being indicated by the heavy line 84 in the several figures.

It will be seen that the flanges 60, 74, 76 together with the skirt 80, and in some cases with the further assistance of the upper portions of the walls 64, 66, 68, 70 of the shell constitute a hollow box girder in the form of an inwardly directed llange having a dependent skirt for reception of the walls of the movement holder. This girder llange has a strength far greater than would be secured by simply doubling the thickness of the flange 60, for example, and of all of the walls 50, 52, 54, 56 of the frame.

In a typical watch case embodying my invention, I employ 14 carat sheet gold for the frame and for the shell, the sheet being approximately 15 thousandths of an inch thick. I have found that a bezel so constructed has such a great strength that it will not skew, distort, or twist during the coupling thereto, or the uncoupling therefrom, of a movement holder such as the holder 12, so that said bezel and holder together, and in conjunction with the crystal and gasket, form a water tight watch case. On the other hand, if, for example, the frame is fashioned from 14 carat sheet gold 30 thousandths of an inch thick, it will not be sufficiently rigid and will deviate from its true shape somewhat during coupling so that the watch case produced with it (no shell being present) will not be water tight. Indeed, the girder type construction provided by my invention forms a bezel which is as strong as a bezel fashioned from sheet material several times as thick.

It may be mentioned that it is desirable after the soldering connections have been made which permanently integrally join the shell to the frame, for the crystal opening 78 to be cleaned and burnished to present the usual attractive front face for the watch. The bottom edge of the bezel is similarly treated.

The shell is provided with the usual lugs 86 for connecting the case to a watch strap. Said lugs may be formed in any suitable fashion. For instance, they can be made in one piece with the bezel or they can be brazed or soldered thereto.

In Fig. 8, I have shown the bezel as it appears immediately prior to coupling with the movement holder, the gasket and the crystal, the girder flange being particularly clear in this figure. When the movement holder and bezel are coupled, the ridges 34 are snapped into the opposed slots 62 and the gasket 18 is squeezed between the upper rim of the movement holder, and the inturned flange of the bezel, and the crystal flange. Despite the considerable pressure that is exerted upon this coupling action, the bezel flange will hold its shape against distortion due to its box type beam construction.

It is within the scope of my invention to utilize various shapes of shell. In some of these, one or more of the walls of the shell are spaced from the walls of the frame.

as for example, if it is desired to make the shell longer than the frame either for the purpose of appearance or function. A watch case embodying such a modified form of my construction is illustrated in Fig. 9. Said case includes a movement holder 12', a gasket 18 and a crystal 16', all as described above. The bezel 14 is the same as the bezel 14, except that the end walls 64 of the shell are spaced from the end walls 50 of the frame, thereby increasing the length to width ratio of the shell over that of the frame. With this construction said end walls are not directly secured to one another; instead, the corner between the end wall 50 and the ange 60 is soldered, as at 84', to the flange 76. Moreover, since the walls 50', 64' are spaced apart, the elongated indentation 62 for reception of the ridge 34 is provided as a groove by stamping, instead of by cutting a slot in the wall 50'. Optionally, if the unsupported wall 64 of the shell may be subjected to undue strain, it can be reinforced by a supporting partition 88 which is soldered to the wall 64'.

It thus will be seen that I have provided a device which achieves the several objects of my invention, and is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A non-circular watch case bezel comprising a frame and a shell, each including circumscribing walls and an inturned top flange, said frame being telescoped within said shell and integrally connected thereto, the inner peripheral portion of the shell ange being spaced from the inner peripheral portion of the frame ange and said portions being connected by a skirt whereby to define a hollow box type beam extending around the top of the bezel.

2. A non-circular watch case bezel comprising a frame and a shell, said frame being telescopically received within said shell, each of said frame and said shell including an inturned top flange, said anges being spaced apart, and means integrally connecting the free edges of said anges whereby said anges form a hollow box type beam.

3. A non-circular Watch case bezel comprising a frame and a shell, each including circumscribing walls and an inturned top ange, said frame being telescoped within said shell and integrally connected thereto, the inner peripheral portion of the shell liange being spaced from the inner peripheral portion of the frame ange and said portions being connected by a skirt in one piece with the shell whereby to define a hollow box type beam extending around the top of the bezel.

Bruner Ian. 10, 1928 King .lune 17, 1952 

